Shrimp splitting and cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A shrimp splitting and cleaning machine in which the shrimp are mounted on a rotating transport wheel which feeds them through the splitting and cleaning mechanism. Flexible guide wheels position the shrimp on the transport wheel while a spring urged pressure fork forces the shrimp onto pins that protrude from the transport wheel. The latter then moves the shrimp through a saw which cuts through the center of the shrimp longitudinally without severing the bottom layer of its shell. The shrimp is then fed into a spreading knife which enters the cut shrimp and splits it open like a book. The wheel then moves the opened shrimp past a rotating brush while water under pressure is directed onto the shrimp to thoroughly clean out the vein and roe and loose particles of shell that may be present. A lifting fork then dislodges the shrimp from the pins on the transport wheel and a chute directs the cleaned shrimp onto a conveyor for removal from the machine.

United States Patent Domecki SHRIMP SPLITTING AND CLEANING APPARATUSPrimary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. WeinholdAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Cyril M. l-lajewski 51 Jan. 29, 1974 5 7ABSTRACT A shrimp splitting and cleaning machine in which the shrimp aremounted on a rotating transport wheel which feeds them through thesplitting and cleaning mechanism. Flexible guide wheels position theshrimp on the transport Wheel while a spring urged pressure fork forcesthe shrimp onto pins that protrude from the transport wheel. The latterthen moves the shrimp through a saw which cuts through the center of theshrimp longitudinally without severing the bottom layer of its shell.The shrimp is then fed into a spreading knife which enters the cutshrimp and splits it open like a book. The wheel then moves the openedshrimp past a rotating brush while water under pressure is directed ontothe shrimp to thoroughly clean out the vein and roe and loose particlesof shell that may be present. A lifting fork then dislodges the shrimpfrom the pins on the transport wheel and a chute directs the cleanedshrimp onto a conveyor for removal from the machine.

19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTED JANZ 91974 anti-mar:

SHRIMP SPLITTING AND CLEANING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention pertains to the splitting and cleaning of crustaceansbelonging to the order Decapoda and is particularly directed to thesplitting and cleaning of shrimp and is especially well adapted foroperating on the Sicyoria Brevirostris more commonly known as the RockShrimp.

Although the present invention is applicable in whole or in part to thesplitting and cleaning of a large variety of crustaceans it wasconceived during the development of processes suitable for marketing theRock Shrimp. The shell of the Rock Shrimp is much heavier and harderthan the shell of the shrimp which are presently popular as a food, suchas the Crago and allied genera. Although the Rock Shrimp is a member ofthe shrimp family and has the appearance of the more popular shrimp, ithas many characteristics which are different than those of the shrimpthat are presently popular as food. It frequently occurs that the RockShrimp are caught along with the more favorite type of shrimp but havebeen returned to the seas as an undesirable type before the shrimp boatreturns to its dock. One of the main reasons for its unpopularity is itstough shell which cannot be removed by the commonly accepted methods forpeeling shrimp.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide animproved mechanism for splitting the body from crustaceans having arelatively heavy shell and which is especially well adapted to processRock Shrimp for marketing in a suitable form.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automaticmechanism for splitting the shrimp and cleaning the vein and roe as wellas any other matter from shrimp with the mechanism being especiallyadapted to operate upon the tough and heavy shell of Rock Shrimp.

It is a further object to provide a shrimp splitting and cleaningapparatus that will perform its function rapidly and with outstandingefficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a rotarytransport wheel is provided for transferring the shrimp through thevarious stations of the apparatus. An improved loading mechanism servesto guide the shrimp from a work table onto the transport wheel. A springloaded fork urges the shrimp onto the transport wheel to impale them onpins that extend radially from the wheel.

From the loading mechanism the shrimp is transported through a rotatingcircular saw which cuts through the shrimp longitudinally along itsdorsal side without severing the bottom layer of its shell. Immediatelyafter leaving the saw, a separating or spreading knife enters betweenthe two portions of the shrimp formed by the cut of the saw. Theseparating knife has a point which enters between the two portions ofthe shrimp and then tapers outwardly to a wide base so it is in the formof an isosceles triangle. As the shrimp moves toward the base of theknife the shell is cracked at the bottom and the shrimp is spreadoutwardly like the pages of a book to completely expose the meat of theshrimp.

The transport wheel then moves the shrimp into a cleaning station wherewater under pressure is passed through nozzles which direct it onto theshrimp. At the same time, a rotating brush is operating on the meat ofthe shrimp to remove all of the vein and roe along its dorsal side aswell as to remove any other matter which may be present.

The shrimp are now ready to be removed from the transport wheel and thisis accomplished automatically at an unloading station by a flexiblelifting fork. The transport wheel moves the shrimp onto the lifting forkwhich is positioned so that as the shrimp moves forwardly the stationaryfork lifts them off the pins on the wheel and into a chute which guidesthem onto a conveyor for removal from the machine.

The shrimp is now ready for marketing. The consumer preferably cooks thesplit shrimp with the meat remaining attached to the shell and the dinerremoves it from the shell much as the meat of a lobster tail may beremoved from the shell when eating it.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention which will become morefully apparent from the following detailed description, may be achievedby means of the exemplifying apparatus depicted in and set forth in thisspecification in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in side elevationillustrating the improved Shrimp Splitting and Cleaning Apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view in front elevation with parts broken awayshowing the electrical motor and its drive for rotating the cleaningbrush as well as the electric motor for rotating the saw with only aportion of the drive belt being illustrated;

FIG. 4 is a plan view depicting the power drive train for rotating theshrimp transport wheel;

FIG. 5 is a detail view in rear elevation with parts broken away showingthe power drive train for rotating the pivotal feed wheel of the feedingmechanism;

FIG. 6 is a detail view in rear elevation with parts broken away showingthe power drive train for rotating the flexible guide wheel of thefeeding mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a detail view showing the arrangements for spring urging thepivotal pressure fork at the loading station and the pivotal hold downfork at the splitting station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT GENERAL DESCRIPTION Reference isnow made more particularly to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1thereof which illustrates a shrimp cleaning and splitting machineincorporating the features of the present invention. The shrimp to beprocessed by the machine may be placed on table 1 1 which is part of aloading station generally identified by the reference numeral 10. Theloading station 10 includes a pressure wheel 12 which is in engagementwith flexible flanges 13 of a guide wheel 14. The pressure wheel 12 isrotating in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 while the guidewheel 14 is rotating in the opposite direction. The shrimp to be splitand cleaned are guided between the pressure wheel 12 and the guide wheel14 which serves to center them on a transport wheel 15. A plurality ofpins 16 extend radially from the entire periphery of the transport wheeland the shrimp that pass through the wheels 12 and 14 are centered onthese pins 16. A pressure fork 17 applies pressure on the shrimp thathave been centered on the transport wheel 15 and impales them upon thepins 16 so that the shrimp are secured to the transport wheel 15 whichtransfers them from station to station in the apparatus.

The shrimp impaled upon the pins 16 are moved by the rotating transportwheel 15 to a splitting station generally identified by the referencenumeral 20. The shrimp are moved past a saw 21 which cuts through theshrimp longitudinally along its dorsal side except that the bottom layerof shell is not severed so that the two halves are not separated. As thesaw is operating on the shrimp, the latter is held down by a hold downfork 22 which prevents the shrimp from being lifted off the pins 16 bythe rotating saw 21.

Immediately after the shrimp has been split by the saw 21, a pointed endof a spreading knife 25 enters between the split portions of the shrimpand the knife widens rapidly so that as the shrimp is moved along by thetransport wheel 15, it engages the widened portion of the knife, andbody of the shrimp is opened like a book to completely expose the meatof the shrimp.

The two portions of the shrimp are completely opened without beingseparated from each other. In this condition the shrimp is passedthrough a cleaning station generally identified by the reference numeral30. At this station, nozzles 31 and 32 direct sprays of water underpressure upon the shrimp while a rotating brush 33 operates upon theshrimp to thoroughly clean the vein and roe from the shrimp as well asany other matter which may be present.

The cleaned shrimp is then engaged by lifting fingers 34 which extendfrom a chute 36 at an unloading station generally identified by thereference numeral 35. The lifting fingers 34 are adjacent to theperiphery of the transport wheel 15 and lie between the pins 16 so thatthe cleaned shrimp is moved on top of the lifting fingers 34 to lift itoff of the pins 16 andinto the chute 36 which directs the split andcleaned shrimp onto a conveyor (not shown).

LOADING STATION At the loading station 10, the pressure wheel 12 and theguide wheel 14 cooperate to guide the shrimp onto the transport wheel15. The shrimp is centrally positioned on the transport wheel 15 andthen is pressed onto the wheel by the pressure fork 17 which appliessufficient pressure to impale the shrimp upon the shrimp 16 so that itis secured to the wheel.

The pressure wheel 12 is rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 1 and its driving mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 5. As thereshown, the wheel is actuated by an electric motor 40 which is connectedto drive a gear reducing mechanism 41 that has an output shaft 39 towhich the pressure wheel 12 is keyed for rotation therewith.

The pressure wheel 12 is yieldably urged toward the guide wheel 14 andits periphery is disposed between the two flexible flanges 13 of theguide wheel 14. To this end, the motor 40 is supported for pivotalmovement by a single pin 42 which is carried by a bracket 43 that issecured to a plate 44. The unit is constantly urged in a pivotalmovement about the pin 42 by a spring 45 which has one end connected toa pin 46 that is secured to the housing of the gear reducer 41. Theouter end of the spring 45 is connected to a rod 47 that is rigidlysecured to a vertical plate 48. With this arrangement, the spring 46continuously urges the entire unit in a pivotal movement about the pin42 to urge the pressure wheel 12 between the flanges 13 of the guidewheel 14. As the shrimp passes between the pressure wheel 12 and theguide wheel 14, the pressure wheel 12 yields to accommodate theparticular size shrimp that is passing between the two wheels.

The drive mechanism for the guide wheel 14 is illustrated in FIG. 6 andincludes a motor 50 connected to actuate a gear reducing unit 51. Thelatter is fixed to a vertical plate 52 and its output shaft 53 isconnected by a coupling 54 to drive a shaft 55 that is journalled in avertical plate 56. The guide wheel 14 is keyed to rotate with the shaft55 in response to energization of the motor 50.

The shrimp to be processed is wedged between the two flanges 13 andtherefore rotates with the guide wheel 14 which centers it with respectto the transport wheel 15. The shrimp is then engaged by the pressurefork 17 which shifts it out of the guide wheel 14 and forces it upon thepins 16. As clearly illustrated in FIG. I, the pressure fork 17 is of abell crank configuration being journalled for pivotal movement about thesame shaft 55 that supports the wheel 14, the hub of the pressure fork17 being journalled on the hub of the guide wheel 14 between the twoflexible flanges 13. The lower lever of the bell crank 50 engages theshrimp while the upper lever is provided with a pin 61 which has aspring 62 attached to it as best shown in FIG. 7. The opposite end ofthe spring 62 is connected to a stud 63 which is threadedly engaged witha vertical plate 64. The spring 62 continuously urges the pressure fork17 about the hub of the wheel 14 in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 1 to apply pressure to the shrimp on the transport wheel 15.

SPLITTING STATION As previously mentioned, the splitting station servesto cut through the body of the shrimp longitudinally along its dorsalside without severing the bottom layer of the shell. The two splitportions are then spread open like a book, to expose the meat of theshrimp. The cutting operation is accomplished by the saw 21. As bestseen in FIG. 2, the saw is mounted on a shaft 65 which extends throughan opening in a vertical plate 68 and is journalled in a bearing 69 thatis mounted on the plate 68 as well as in a bearing block 70 that isfixed to a horizontal plate 71. The shaft 65 and its associated saw 21are rotated by a motor which is provided with a pulley 76 keyed to itsoutput shaft for driving a belt 77 which also embraces a pulley 78 thatis fixed to the shaft 65. Accordingly, the belt 77 transmits the drivefrom the motor 75 to the shaft 65 for rotating the saw 21.

While the saw is operating upon the body of the shrimp as the transportwheel 15 is feeding the shrimp into the saw, the saw has a tendency todislodge the shrimp from the pins 16 which would release it from thewheel 15. In order to prevent this occurence, the hold down fork 22applies a pressure to the shrimp to retain it in engagement with thepins 16. To this end, the transport wheel 15 moves the shrimp under thehold down fork 22 which causes the latter to pivot in a counterclockwisedirection as .viewed in FIG. 1 about a pin 79. The hold down fork 22 isalso in the configuv ration of a bell crank and, as shown in FIG. 7, aspring 80 is continuously urging the hold down fork 22 in a clockwisedirection. The spring 80 has one end connected to the stud 63 and itsopposite end connected to a pin 81 which is secured to the upper end ofthe hold down fork 22. Therefore, as the shrimp moves underneath thefork portion of the hold down fork 22, the counterclockwise pivoting ofthe fork 22 is against the force applied by the spring 80 which servesto retain the shrimp in engagement with the pins 16 while the saw 21 isoperating upon its shell.

The sawdust which may be generated by the saw 21 is washed away by aspray of water directed through a conduit 85 which flows through apetcock 86 from a suitable source (not shown). The spray of water alsoserves to prevent the generation of heat on the shrimp as it is beingsawed.

Although the saw 21 serves to cut through the shrimp longitudinallyalong its dorsal side, the bottom layer of shell is not severed and theshell remains closed with the meat of the shrimp enclosed therein. Inorder for the cleaning operations to be performed, it is necessary toexpose the meat of the shrimp to this end, the transport wheel feeds theshrimp into the spreading knife 25. As best seen in FIG. 2, thespreading knife is in the form of an isosceles triangle and thetransport wheel 15 feeds the shrimp into the tip of the triangle. Thetip enters between the two severed portions of the body and as theshrimp progresses with the movement of the transport wheel 15, theshrimp progressively engages the wider portions of the triangle whichserves to split the shrimp apart and open it like a book. This operationactually cracks the shell to split the shrimp apart and fully expose itsmeat without actually detaching the meat from the shell.

The base of the triangle formed by the spreading knife 25 is secured tothe vertical plate 68 by a bolt 87 which serves to rigidly secure thespreading knife 25 in position above the transport wheel 15. It willalso be noted, that the spreading knife 25 extends downwardly from thehorizontal portion to present a curved surface having a radiusconforming to the radius of the transport wheel 15 with the curvedportion lying directly adjacent to the exterior extremities of the pins16. Accordingly, as the shrimp progresses along a path defined by thediameter of the transport wheel 15, it remains engaged with thespreading knife 25 to fully split it apart.

CLEANING STATION The transport wheel 15 moves the shrimp past thespreading knife 25 to open the shrimp and expose its meat. With the meatfully exposed, the shrimp is passed through the cleaning station for theremoval of the vein and roe and any other foreign matter that may bepresent including particles of the shell generated by the saw 21. Wateris sprayed upon the shrimp through the two nozzles 31 and 32, the waterbeing obtained from a suitable source under pressure through a valve 89and through a conduit 90 to the nozzle 32. The nozzle 31 is suppliedwith water under pressure from the same source through a conduit 91 anda branch conduit 92 as well as a pipe 93 to which the nozzle 31 isconnected. The two nozzles 31 and 32 thoroughly envelope the shrimp andwhile the water is being sprayed upon the shrimp, it passes through therotating brush 33.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the brush 33 has one end journalled in a bar 95that is secured by a screw 96 to the spreading knife 25 as clearly shownin FIG. 1. The other end of the brush is journalled in a bearing 97 thatis mounted on a vertical plate 98.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the brush 33 is rotated by a motor 101having a pulley 102 keyed to its output shaft 103. A drive belt 104 isin engagement with the pulley 102 as well as with a pulley 105 that iskeyed to the shaft which is connected to drive the brush 33.

Thus, the exposed meat of the shrimp is subjected to a heavy spray ofwater from the nozzles 31 and 32 while it is being acted upon by thebrush 33 so that it is thoroughly cleaned.

UNLOADING STATION The transport wheel 15 rotates continuously and afterthe shrimp has passed through the cleaning station 33 its processing hasbeen completed and it is ready to be removed from the apparatus.Accordingly, the lifting fingers 34 extend forwardly from the chute 36and are adjacent to the surface of the transport wheel 15 between thepins 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shrimp, therefore, moves onto thelifting fingers 34, and the latter being at an angle to the periphery ofthe transport wheel 15 lift the shrimp off of the pins 16 to remove itfrom the transport wheel 15 and direct it into the chute 36 which allowsthe split and cleaned shrimp to drop by gravity onto a conveyor (notshown) which carries the shrimp away for further processing, such aspackaging.

TRANSPORT WHEEL DRIVE The rotation of the transport wheel 15 isuninterrupted for continuously moving the shrimp through the severalstations for opening it and cleaning the meat. The drive for rotatingthe transport wheel 15 is best il lustrated in FIG. 4. As there shown,it is rotated by an electric motor which is connected to drive a gearreducing unit 111. An output shaft 112 of the gear reducing unit 111 hasa small sprocket 113 keyed to it and the sprocket is in engagement witha continuous chain 114. The chain 114 is also in engagement with a largesprocket 115 that is keyed to a shaft 116 which is journalled in abearing 117. The transport wheel 15 is coupled to the shaft 1 16 by acoupling 118 to complete the drive from the motor 110 to the transportwheel 15.

From the foregoing detailed description of the illustrative embodimentof the invention set forth herein it will be apparent that there hasbeen provided an improved apparatus especially adapted for opening theunusually strong shell of the rock shrimp to fully expose the meat ofthe shrimp and then to thoroughly clean the vein and roe from the shrimpas well as to remove any particles of the shell that may have beenproduced in opening it.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the invention has been describedin considerable detail for the purpose of disclosing a practicaloperative structure whereby the invention may be practisedadvantageously, it is to be understood that the particular shrimpsplitting and cleaning apparatus is intended to be illustrative only andthat the various novel characteristics of the invention may beincorporated in other structural forms without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of the invention having now been fully explained inconnection with the foregoing description of the illustrativeembodiment, the invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a machine for splitting shrimp; a frame; transport means supportedby said frame for moving the shrimp in a predetermined path of travel;cutting means operably mounted on said frame in the path of travel ofthe shrimp as it is being moved by said transport means to out along thelength of the body, of the shrimp through its shell and body withoutsevering the bottom layer of its shell and split it longitudinally intotwo portions; and spreading means carried by said frame in position toengage the split shrimp as it is being moved by said transport means tospread the two halves of the shrimp apart to open it like a book toexpose the meat of the shrimp.

2. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 1 including; hold downmeans for holding the shrimp onto said transport means while it is beingoperated upon by said cutting means.

3. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 1 including; a sourceof water pressure; and means directing the water onto said shrimp whileit is being operated upon by said cutting means.

4. A srhimp splitting machine according to claim 1 including; cleaningmeans disposed in said path of travel of the shrimp to clean the shrimpafter it has been spread open by said spreading means to clean the veinand roe as well as any foreign matter from the shrimp.

5. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 4 wherein said cleaningmeans comprises; a rotary brush mounted in position to engage the splitshrimp as it is being moved by said transport means; a source of waterpressure; and means directing the water pressure onto the shrimp whileit is being operated upon by said brush.

6. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 2 including; a rotarybrush mounted in position to engage the split shrimp as it is beingmoved by said transport means; a source of water pressure; and meansdirecting the water pressure onto the shrimp while it is being operatedupon by said brush.

7. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 1 wherein saidtransport means comprises; a wheel rotatably supported by said frame;pins extending radially from said wheel for receiving the shrimp andsecuring them to said wheel; and means'for rotating said wheel to movethe shrimp carried therein.

8. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 4 wherein saidtransport means comprises; a wheel rotatably supported by said frame;means extending radially from said wheel for receiving the shrimp andsecuring them to said wheel; and means for rotating said wheel to movethe shrimp carried thereon through the stations of the machine.

9. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 1 including; loadingmeans carried by said frame for individually loading the shrimp ontosaid transport means in position so that the transport means will movesaid shrimp through said cutting means.

10. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 9 wherein said loadingmeans comprises a guide wheel having radially extending flexible flangesfor receiving the shrimp to be processed between said flanges; a rotarypressure wheel having its periphery disposed between the flanges of saidguide wheel and being yieldably biased toward said guide wheel so thatthe shrimp will be forced by said pressure wheel between the twoflexible flanges of said guide wheel; means for rotating said pressurewheel; means for rotating said guide wheel to move the shrimp intoalignment with said transport means; and means for extracting thealigned shrimp from said guide wheel and forcing them onto saidtransport means for movement through the machine.

ll. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 7 including; loadingmeans carried by said frame for individually receiving the shrimp andguiding them into position with respect to said wheel; and pressuremeans to apply pressure to each individual shrimp in said loading meansto extract the shrimp from said loading means and impale it onto saidpins for securing it to said wheel.

12. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 11 wherein saidloading means comprises; a guide wheel having radially extendingflexible flanges for receiving the shrimp to be processed between saidflanges; a rotary pressure wheel having its periphery disposed betweenthe flanges of said guide wheel and being yieldably biased toward saidguide wheel so that the shrimp will be forced by said pressure wheelbetween the two flexible flanges of said guide wheel; means for rotatingsaid pressure wheel; and means for rotating said guide wheel for movingthe shrimp into alignment with said wheel and in position to be engagedby saidpressure means.

13. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 1 wherein; saidcutting means is a rotary saw which saws through the shrimp to split itinto two parts without severing completely through so that the two partsof the shrimp are not separated.

14. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 2 wherein; saidcutting means is a rotary saw which saws through the shrimp to split itinto two parts without severing completely through so that the two partsof the shrimp are not separated but may be opened like a book by saidspreading means.

15. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 7 including; cleaningmeans disposed in said path of travel of the shrimp to clean the shrimpafter it has been spread open by said spreading means to clean the veinand roe as well as any foreign matter from the shrimp.

16. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 15 wherein saidcleaning means comprises; a rotary brush mounted in position to engagethe split shrimp as it is being moved by said wheel; a source of waterpressure; and means directing the water pressure onto the shrimp whileit is being operated upon by said brush.

17. In a machine for splitting shrimp; a frame; transport meanssupported by said frame for moving the shrimp in a predetermined path oftravel; securing means for retaining the shrimp on said transport means;and cutting means operably mounted on said frame in the path of travelof the shrimp as it is being moved by said transport means to cut alongthe length of the body of the shrimp through its shell and body to splitit longitudinally into two portions without dislodging it from saidsecuring means.

including cleaning means disposed to operate upon the shrimp before itis engaged by said releasing means to clean the vein and roe as well asany other foreign matter from the shrimp after it has been split by saidcutting means.

1. In a machine for splitting shrimp; a frame; transport means supportedby said frame for moving the shrimp in a predetermined path of travel;cutting means operably mounted on said frame in the path of travel ofthe shrimp as it is being moved by said transport means to cut along thelength of the body, of the shrimp through its shell and body withoutsevering the bottom layer of its shell and split it longitudinally intotwo portions; and spreading means carried by said frame in position toengage the split shrimp as it is being moved by said transport means tospread the two halves of the shrimp apart to open it like a book toexpose the meat of the shrimp.
 2. A shrimp splitting machine accordingto claim 1 including; hold down means for holding the shrimp onto saidtransport means while it is being operated upon by said cutting means.3. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 1 including; a sourceof water pressure; and means directing the water onto said shrimp whileit is being operated upon by said cutting means.
 4. A srhimp splittingmachine according to claim 1 including; cleaning means disposed in saidpath of travel of the shrimp to clean the shrimp after it has beenspread open by said spreading means to clean the vein and roe as well asany foreign matter from the shrimp.
 5. A shrimp splitting machineaccording to claim 4 wherein said cleaning means comprises; a rotarybrush mounted in position to engage the split shrimp as it is beingmoved by said transport means; a source of water pressure; and meansdirecting the water pressure onto the shrimp while it is being operatedupon by said brush.
 6. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 2including; a rotary brush mounted in position to engage the split shrimpas it is being moved by said transport means; a source of waterpressure; and means directing the water pressure onto the shrimp whileit is being operated upon by said brush.
 7. A shrimp splitting machineaccording to claim 1 wherein said transport means comprises; a wheelrotatably supported by said frame; pins extending radially from saidwheel for receiving the shrimp and securing them to said wheel; andmeans for rotating said wheel to move the shrimp carried therein.
 8. Ashrimp splitting machine according to claim 4 wherein said transportmeans comprises; a wheel rotatably supported by said frame; meansextending radially from said wheel for receiving the shrimp and securingthem to said wheel; and means foR rotating said wheel to move the shrimpcarried thereon through the stations of the machine.
 9. A shrimpsplitting machine according to claim 1 including; loading means carriedby said frame for individually loading the shrimp onto said transportmeans in position so that the transport means will move said shrimpthrough said cutting means.
 10. A shrimp splitting machine according toclaim 9 wherein said loading means comprises a guide wheel havingradially extending flexible flanges for receiving the shrimp to beprocessed between said flanges; a rotary pressure wheel having itsperiphery disposed between the flanges of said guide wheel and beingyieldably biased toward said guide wheel so that the shrimp will beforced by said pressure wheel between the two flexible flanges of saidguide wheel; means for rotating said pressure wheel; means for rotatingsaid guide wheel to move the shrimp into alignment with said transportmeans; and means for extracting the aligned shrimp from said guide wheeland forcing them onto said transport means for movement through themachine.
 11. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 7 including;loading means carried by said frame for individually receiving theshrimp and guiding them into position with respect to said wheel; andpressure means to apply pressure to each individual shrimp in saidloading means to extract the shrimp from said loading means and impaleit onto said pins for securing it to said wheel.
 12. A shrimp splittingmachine according to claim 11 wherein said loading means comprises; aguide wheel having radially extending flexible flanges for receiving theshrimp to be processed between said flanges; a rotary pressure wheelhaving its periphery disposed between the flanges of said guide wheeland being yieldably biased toward said guide wheel so that the shrimpwill be forced by said pressure wheel between the two flexible flangesof said guide wheel; means for rotating said pressure wheel; and meansfor rotating said guide wheel for moving the shrimp into alignment withsaid wheel and in position to be engaged by said pressure means.
 13. Ashrimp splitting machine according to claim 1 wherein; said cuttingmeans is a rotary saw which saws through the shrimp to split it into twoparts without severing completely through so that the two parts of theshrimp are not separated.
 14. A shrimp splitting machine according toclaim 2 wherein; said cutting means is a rotary saw which saws throughthe shrimp to split it into two parts without severing completelythrough so that the two parts of the shrimp are not separated but may beopened like a book by said spreading means.
 15. A shrimp splittingmachine according to claim 7 including; cleaning means disposed in saidpath of travel of the shrimp to clean the shrimp after it has beenspread open by said spreading means to clean the vein and roe as well asany foreign matter from the shrimp.
 16. A shrimp splitting machineaccording to claim 15 wherein said cleaning means comprises; a rotarybrush mounted in position to engage the split shrimp as it is beingmoved by said wheel; a source of water pressure; and means directing thewater pressure onto the shrimp while it is being operated upon by saidbrush.
 17. In a machine for splitting shrimp; a frame; transport meanssupported by said frame for moving the shrimp in a predetermined path oftravel; securing means for retaining the shrimp on said transport means;and cutting means operably mounted on said frame in the path of travelof the shrimp as it is being moved by said transport means to cut alongthe length of the body of the shrimp through its shell and body to splitit longitudinally into two portions without dislodging it from saidsecuring means.
 18. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 17including; releasing means carried by said frame in position to engagethe shrimp after it has been split by said cutting means to release theshrimp from said securing means for removal from sAid transport means.19. A shrimp splitting machine according to claim 18 including cleaningmeans disposed to operate upon the shrimp before it is engaged by saidreleasing means to clean the vein and roe as well as any other foreignmatter from the shrimp after it has been split by said cutting means.